Former San Diego councilman and mayoral candidate Carl DeMaio Thursday formally announced his candidacy for the 2014 race in the state's 52nd Congressional District.

"I see myself as a 'new generation Republican' who wants to challenge the party to focus on pocket-book, economic and quality of life issues in a more positive and inclusive way, rather than issues that are, frankly, none of the government's business in the first place," DeMaio said in a campaign news release.

With Republicans losing consistently since 2010, this "new generation Republican" might be exactly what Republican leadership needs if the Republican party is to stop its downward slide.

DeMaio backs marriage equality (and is openly gay himself), supports medical marijuana, and is pro-choice. But DeMaio hopes to keep the focus away from social issues. Instead, he hopes to focus on economic and government issues such as balancing the federal budget, making government work again for its citizens, and revitalizing the economy.